I'm just going to come out and say it. Death Stranding 2 is a masterpiece. Sure, it's a bold statement, but it's one that I'm willing to stick with, and for good reason. It's a sentiment that I'm sure a lot of people will agree with. Hideo Kojima didn't just make a sequel. He crafted an experience that somehow surpassed its predecessor in every way possible. He doubled down on the weirdness, while also fixing some of the gripes that people had with the first release. Of course, one of the major caveats was the combat, which was a bit rough around the edges. With Death Stranding 2, the combat ended up being more streamlined and it felt more enjoyable the second time around.
While the first entry focused on the connection, Death Stranding 2 asks the an even more important question, "Should we have connected?" Sam went from being a hesitant courier to a father figure who had to deal with the mystery of his child Lou. There's a level and degree of vulnerability that's present in the sequel that was pretty much non-existent in the first game.
The entire cast did a phenomenal job of bringing to life their respective characters, whether it was Norman Reedus, LÊa Seydoux, Troy Baker, Elle Fanning, Luca Marinelli, etc. Visually speaking, Death Stranding 2 is the benchmark for what high-end hardware is capable of and it's thanks to the power of the Decima Engine.
Death Stranding features some pretty dynamic environments and landscapes. The various terrain changes in real-time with floods, collapsing bridges, shifting sands, and snow storms that can significantly impact your routes mid-delivery. Having the Magellan as Sam's home base changed the game's overall scale. It's not simply about going from point A to point B. It's a global journey where your home follows you.
Combat-wise the first game was pretty rough. It was clunky, awkward, and it didn't feel good. I tried avoiding combat encounters whenever I could, but sometimes I had no choice other than to partake in it. Death Stranding 2 isn't your traditional shooter by any stretch of the imagination, but it feels a lot more enjoyable and satisfying the second go-around.
Death Stranding 2 wouldn't be a Hideo Kojima game without his signature humor and weirdness. What other video game features a talking puppet that you have attached to your belt that provides meta-commentary while you traverse a dangerous and gorgeous post apocalyptic wasteland? It's the perfect blend of high-art and unconventional humor and fun.
To be honest, if you didn't enjoy the first game, you probably won't enjoy the sequel either. Death Stranding 2 is about patience, planning, and persevering. It's about traversing a dangerous and perilous journey while you try and connect the U.S. to the world. Death Stranding 2 is an uncompromising vision from an inventive creator who isn't afraid to take chances and risks in order to make something unique and different. It's a game that respects the player's time while also making you pay attention to the world around you, instead of simply rushing through it.
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